Patent GB-1390168-A (GB)
Title: System for operating miniature vehicles
IPC: A63H18/12
Filed: 1973-06-06
Abstract: 1390168 Toy vehicles M I GLASS [trading as MARVIN GLASS & ASSOCIATES] 6 June 1973 [19 June 19721 27031/73 Heading A6S Remotely controlled powered toy vehicles each carry a mass freely movable relatively to its vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction and so arranged that by retarding the forward motion of the vehicle, inertia carries the mass forwardly of the vehicle and causes it to actuate steering mechanism which changes the direction of vehicle motion. In the form shown, the mass 32, Figs. 1, 6, consists of an electric motor, slidable lengthwise of a toy motor vehicle frame 20, and driving through a worm and worm wheel 30 to the vehicle rear wheels 26. A cam 62 having cam faces 64a is carried at the front of the motor 32, to coact with a cam 34 on a track rod 40 pivoted between front steering wheel supports 44 and turn the steering wheels 22a, when forward motion of the vehicle is retarded (Fig. 6). A spring 48 biasses the front wheel stub shafts to turn about their swivel pins 24 to the straight ahead position (Fig. 1). The swivel pins 24 are mounted at opposite ends of a transverse bar 46, Fig. 4, lateral slidable relatively to the vehicle between limiting positions beneath the vehicle frame 20. In use, the vehicles run along a track having lipped edges, e.g. the lip 66, Fig. 1. The arrangement is such that the track rod 40, swivel pins 24, &c are slidden sideways of the vehicle by engagement at a front wheel 22b with a track lip 66, e.g. to the right as shown in Fig. 1. On subsequent retardation of vehicle forward motion, the cams 62, 34 then so coact, Fig. 6, as always to turn the toy vehicle away from the track lip 66 towards the opposite side of the track, e.g. to the right hand side, as shown. The motor 32 is energized by current picked up from conductors 98 or 116, Fig. 9, embedded in the track, and engaged by a pair of downwardly spring biassed contacts 74, Fig. 2. The sideways positioning of the contacts 74 relative to the toy vehicle frame can be varied by the selective attachment of one contact (the lower in Fig. 2) to two alternative connection slots 88. Thus two vehicles having differently arranged contacts 74 can be independently controlled on a single three-conductor lane 98, Fig. 9. The uppermost track shown in Fig. 9 (also illustrated in Fig. 12, not shown), has polished outer grooves 70 for the outside wheels of the toy vehicles, and a central roughened track (96) of higher coefficient of friction for the inside wheels, to ensure engagement of the vehicles with the track lips 66. The middle track shown in Fig. 9 omits the outer grooves and is inclined outwardly from its centre 72 to engage the vehicles with the track lips 66. The lower track of Fig. 9 illustrates a two-conductor arrangement 116, c. Control of two independent cars A, B, Fig. 10, on a three-conductor track system is effected via a transformer and rectifier 100, 102 and controllers A, B each incorporating a rheostat 109 and a switch 108, opening the latter switching off the respective vehicle motor 32 and thus effecting steering control. Car A has its contacts 74 arranged to slide along the conductors 1-c, Fig. 11 (not shown), while car B has its contacts arranged to slide along the conductors 4, c. Control of two cars A, B, Fig. 14, on a two conductor system 116, c is effected by a circuit omitting a rectifier and instead utilizing alternating current, each car incorporating an oppositely directed diode 118 so as to respond only to current of the phase not effecting the other.